MassachusettsTopsfield alcohol licenses cover all drinks, with a container size limit
Topsfield’s select board licenses cover off-premises sales of all alcoholic drinks, and those license holders must follow a minimum container size.
What it does
Four Topsfield licenses for off-premises alcohol sales cover all alcoholic drinks under the amended wording of three earlier local acts.
Holders of those licenses must not sell or distribute alcoholic drinks in containers smaller than 200 milliliters.
Argument forAllowing the four licenses to cover all alcoholic drinks could let Topsfield stores offer more kinds of drinks for off-premises sale.
Argument againstThe size limit could reduce shoppers’ choices by preventing licensed stores from selling alcoholic drinks in small containers.
More detail
The law allows four licenses for off-premises sales of all alcoholic drinks. The licenses cover sales in Topsfield when the drinks will not be consumed where they are sold. The law takes effect upon its passage.
Covered license holders must not sell, offer for sale, or distribute alcoholic drinks in containers smaller than 200 milliliters. The restriction applies to holders of select-board licenses to sell all alcoholic drinks for off-premises use. The law takes effect upon its passage.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed 1st Chamber
- Passed 2nd Chamber
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Sep 10Signed by the Governor Maura Healey, Chapter 211 of the Acts of 2026Latest
- Sep 3Enacted and laid before the GovernorMajor
- Sep 3EnactedBecame Law
- Aug 27Senate concurred in the House amendment
- Aug 27Rules suspended
- Aug 6Passed to be engrossedPassed 2nd Chamber
- Aug 6Amended by substitution of the text of H5650Major
- Aug 6Read thirdMinor
- Apr 30Read second and ordered to a third readingMinor
- Apr 30Rules suspended
- Apr 30Committee reported that the matter be placed in the Orders of the Day for the next sitting
- Apr 2Read; and referred to the committee on House Steering, Policy and SchedulingMinor
- Apr 1Read third and passed to be engrossedPassed 1st Chamber
- Apr 1Taken out of the Orders of the Day
- Apr 1Read second and ordered to a third readingMinor
- Mar 9Bill reported favorably by committee and placed in the Orders of the Day for the next sessionMinor
- Jan 8Reporting date extended to Thursday March 5, 2026
- 2025
- Oct 14Hearing rescheduled to 10/14/2025 from 10:00 AM-11:30 AM in A-2 and Virtual Hearing updated to New End Time
- Oct 2Hearing scheduled for 10/14/2025 from 10:00 AM-01:00 PM in A-2
- Jun 5House concurred
- Jun 2Referred to the committee on Consumer Protection and Professional LicensureIntroduced
Consumer Protection